I am just getting into black smithing and I'm looking for a set of tongs. I'll be working on metal roughly 1/8th to 1/4th flat bar for now. Any suggestions would be awesome, thanks!!

um, try a search for tongs, but to hold you over........

I was wandering if there was a particular style of tongs that would be best.

I'd go with a couple pairs of V-bit tongs from OCP. Hard to find a more universally useful tong than a V-bit.

https://www.blacksmi...ad232dc5835ac0a

Flat bar has 3 dimensions thickness, width and length. If you can give us the rest of the sizes we can answer your question. If it's long enough you may not need tongs at all.

Most but not all will be around 1/8" x 1-1/4" x 12" to 1/4" x 1-1/4" x 12-3/4"

1/4 x 1 1/4 inch box jaw will give a good hold. Should work for both 1/8 and 1/4.
The correct size V bit would also work, But box jaws are built for flat bar.

OK. Those pieces are short enough that you'll need to grasp them with tongs. A 16"x3/8" V-bit will hold 1/8" or 1/4" nicely. If you want to grab 1-1/4" stock on edge then get a pair of 18"x1-1/4" V-bits. Also, you might get by with a pair of 18"x1" and be able to use them for 1" stock, too.

Thank you for all the information i think i am going to go with the OC V-bit Tongs 16 x 3/8

I am just getting into black smithing and I'm looking for a set of tongs. I'll be working on metal roughly 1/8th to 1/4th flat bar for now. Any suggestions would be awesome, thanks!!

I just started and with a little effort I was able to make a pair. The first effort was crude, and I went back and re made them the next day with more thought. It seems the perfect place to start. Seems a shame to buy your first pair, the satisfaction will never be on the same level.

I just started and with a little effort I was able to make a pair. The first effort was crude, and I went back and re made them the next day with more thought. It seems the perfect place to start. Seems a shame to buy your first pair, the satisfaction will never be on the same level.

Say what?

Not sure that I would want to spend two days making something that I can buy for around 25 bucks.

Not sure that I would want to spend two days making something that I can buy for around 25 bucks.

Obviously the INITIAL investment of time is large, but I know that with time you can and indeed will get fast enough to make them for LESS than it would cost you to by them.( LOL Sorry Grant.)

No, you're right. I have reached that point. LOL. I think that it's good for any blacksmith to know how to make tongs. Many still choose to buy. True for many things; hammers, anvil tools, even power hammers and leg vises, build or buy.

I think it depends how you value your time. I find tong-making very tedious (although I enjoy watching Grant's tong-making videos -- I wouldn't find it quite so tedious if I had all those cool toys to play with). I'd rather do something else with the limited time I have at the forge. But making your own is definitely a valuable learning experience.

To add something on point, I'll say that I don't love V-bits for holding flat stock. Box jaws aren't nearly as versatile as v-bits, but I do find that the former give a much better grip on flat bar. A little slop in the fit isn't that big a deal, so 1/4"x1-1/4" box jaws would probably do fine for you.